In article >, Kevin McMurtrie > wrote:

>The point is that the batteries in Honda's systems frequently hit 100%
>full or empty. The hybrid system does assist a little more on a full
>battery and regenerate a little more on an empty battery, but the
>adjustment isn't enough.

Small clarification: Maybe the Honda's instrument panel's dial
shows it at "100%" and "empty", but the battery itself is
operating in a rather narrow State of Charge (SOC) range of
perhaps (I don't know exactly what Honda is using) 50-80%.
Probably an even narrower range. They *could* use it over a wider
range, but then they'd be compromising battery life.

>I have no idea how the EPA came up with the
>HAH's high milage numbers.

EPA doesn't come up with them, Honda does. Honda tests the car to
a specific EPA-given drive schedule. EPA may check the
results. I'm sure Honda tweaked the battery control strategy in
part to give about as high a number on this test as they could
(presumably also with consideration to: battery durability,
emissions, drivability, real-world mileage ...). The lack of
correspondence of this EPA cycle to "real-world" driving, does
have a significant role in the EPA numbers being higher than most
people's experience.

And back to the main Q: I'm sure it is controlled electronically.
But you'd be well-advised to not muss with it!!